After their inaugural season last year, the Augustana women’s bowling team began their 2018-19 season at the Five Seasons Classic in mid-October. They have competed in three more tournaments so far.
As the team will continue to grow in numbers, the girls look forward to the development of a still new program and to improve all aspects in the game.
Head coach Martin Resner, who is an Augie alum, officially started the women’s team last year and is now in his second year with the Vikings. Resner hopes to see the team in the top 15 of Division II and Division III bowling, having a bowler earn an all-tournament team recognition and finish in the top 80 in power rankings, since last year they were outside of 100.
“With the program only in its second season, my main goal is to build upon the start we had last year and continue to form the norms, expectations and traditions of Augustana bowling,” Resner said. “My favorite thing about Augustana bowling right now is that I get to be a part and guide a team that truly is building from the ground up. It is fun to see the growth, learning and bonding that is happening from year to year, tournament to tournament.”
A key player for the Vikings this year is sophomore Taylor Kies, who lead the team last year in almost every category and finished the season with a score average of 181. This season, Kies continues to provide team leadership, while also producing big numbers at tournaments as she currently leads the team with a 179 average.
Kies’s best game this season was a 218 at the Crusader Classic at Lynwood, IL, in November.
“A personal goal this season would be to increase my spare percentage and to improve on the stats from last year. I would also like to improve my mental game which is a big part of bowling,” Kies said. “In practice we do different drills like spare shooting and target practice. I like to look at the videos our coach takes at practice or watch the live streams so I can actually see what I’m doing wrong and try to fix it.”
Another key player this year is a Quad Cities local, first-year Sky Stoutt. She went to United Township in East Moline and chose Augustana because it not only gave her the opportunity to bowl in her community, but also because of academics.                         
“Everything just lined up and it was a perfect fit for me,” Stoutt said. “Augie bowling means being part of a family. I love everything about my team. I have never clicked with a group of people so quickly. I have made some forever friends with this group of girls and I like that my coach is always working towards improvement.”
Stoutt’s best performance was at the first tournament in Cedar Rapids, IA, where during her fifth game bowled a 229. In order to to prepare for the upcoming tournaments, Stoutt wants to stay consistent throughout her game.
“I’m really focusing on my spare shooting and being more consistent with my shots. I can strike all day, but if I can’t pick up a spare, I’m not going to do very well,” Stoutt said.”I just want to to get into my rhythm with my shots and feel comfortable with every shot that I throw. Making the best throw that I can every time will get me spares and strikes.”
Resner has noticed big improvements made by the team already in this new season.
“The team has pretty much improved in all aspects compared to last year. A few numbers, the team’s overall average per player as 159 last year, this year 163 so far. Strike percentage 27 to 29, spare percentage 51 to 54, single pin spares percentage 69 to 74 and Baker game average 158 to 162,” Resner said. “There is improvement across the board, and each tournament we have finished higher than the previous year so far.”
The Vikings will look next for the Warhawk Invitational in Addison, IL, on Dec. 1 to the 2.